Big Mess In Hartford

[Kevlar]

Let me see if I've got this right.

--Tribune names the GM of a local TV station publisher of the Courant in early April.

--Among the many changes taking place under the combined news operation, it appears a 29-year-old woman will have an enhanced role in marketing and public relations, over and above some more experienced that her. Rumors fly.

--Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal writes Tribune demanding details of the combined operation, questioning if one ownership group will become too powerful. This might hamper Tribune's yearly waiver request to the feds regarding cross-ownership laws.

--Last week, the 29-year-old is arrested twice for DUI in 3 hours overnight by the same cop, such a "news of the weird" type item, that it makes news from Dubai to San Jose.

--Friday it comes out that the GM/Publisher, a married father of two, was in the car with her, bailed her out the first time (her husband bailed her out the second time), and drove her back to her car, whereby she was arrested for her 2nd DUI, driving with a suspended license, and speeding.

--The Courant publishes an article in which the GM/Publisher comes up with a story about "helping her with directions" that strains belief to such a point that it would be borderline hilarious if drunk driving were at all funny.

--The TV station ignores the story (all the other TV stations in the market did the story) until Friday, when it basically reads a statement from the GM/Publisher.

--The 29-year-old continues to work on marketing and P.R. via conference calls as if nothing has happened.

Do I have this right?

 

[Moderator1]

Jesus. Keep the details coming.
I'd love to hear some of these "directions."

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

I'd love to hear some of these "directions."

Somehow, I think it involves The Old Dirt Road.

 

[StormSurge]

More info here:

http://thelaurel.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/police-identify-other-person-in-car-with-fox61-double-dui-marketing-director-as-richard-graziano/

 

[slappy4428]

Good to see her BAC come down .05 in 2:40... .175 -- jeebus

 

[Armchair_QB]

Man, I feel bad for her husband and his wife.

However, this is funny as hell in a "what a couple of ****ing idiots" kinda way.

 

[JackReacher]

Giving her directions, huh?

Reminds me of when I was a pledge in my fraternity way back when. Our pledge class was tasked to do about 100 things one night all around the DC-VA-MD area. One was to get a picture taken with a hooker in DC.

So I'm asking one lovely lady if she minded taking a picture with us when a cop decides to check in. I tell him I was simply asking directions. He was not amused.

 

[Rockbottom]

Sonner dirt alert!

RB

 

[playthrough]

If you're booked for DWI at 1 a.m., how do you get released to *anyone* at 4 a.m.? Sober up in the hole and let someone pick you up during business hours the next day. If someone had been killed during the second DWI, that police dept would be facing all kinds of sh*t.

 

[SixToe]

Typical of many newspaper management types - ignore the in-house story as if nothing is going on.

 

[SF_Express]

I was surprised by the tight turnaround as well.

 

[JackReacher]

If you're booked for DWI at 1 a.m., how do you get released to *anyone* at 4 a.m.? Sober up in the hole and let someone pick you up during business hours the next day. If someone had been killed during the second DWI, that police dept would be facing all kinds of sh*t.

That happens all the time, doesn't it? But you're right. That's kinda crazy they release someone just three hours later, which was, more than likely, immediately after booking.

 

[Armchair_QB]

I wonder if overcrowding had something to do with it?

 

[SixToe]

Maybe the Pub/GM called in a favor to get her released?

 

[JackReacher]

Maybe the Pub/GM called in a favor to get her released?

Correct me if I'm wrong (I could have outdated info), but I think it depends on the magistrate (sp.). If he or she is in a good mood, they'll release you. If not, you're in there until probably 10 a.m. the next morning.

I can't imagine any judge would be happy about coming in for a DUI at 1 a.m., though, so yeah, maybe the pub pulled a favor or some crazy **** like that.

 

[fishwrapper]

Kevlar,
I would enter into negotiations for the movie rights (just from your first post)...but, no one would believe it.

 

[Bob Cook]

Giving her directions, huh?

Reminds me of when I was a pledge in my fraternity way back when. Our pledge class was tasked to do about 100 things one night all around the DC-VA-MD area. One was to get a picture taken with a hooker in DC.

So I'm asking one lovely lady if she minded taking a picture with us when a cop decides to check in. I tell him I was simply asking directions. He was not amused.

Did she finish high school before she took the job?

[/crossthread]

 

[SixToe]

Don't a lot of states, or all of them, have a mandatory 8-hour lockup for DUI offenses?

I was thinking if you get arrested then you're held for at least that long.

 

[WriteThinking]

It may be a minor consideration compared to the absolute stupidity and inexcusability of driving under the influence twice in three hours, and yet...

These people are the ones who not only are still working in this business, but are running it, in good jobs, while many, many others of us are...not.

Yeah, this really, really bugs me.

 

[JackReacher]

Giving her directions, huh?

Reminds me of when I was a pledge in my fraternity way back when. Our pledge class was tasked to do about 100 things one night all around the DC-VA-MD area. One was to get a picture taken with a hooker in DC.

So I'm asking one lovely lady if she minded taking a picture with us when a cop decides to check in. I tell him I was simply asking directions. He was not amused.

Did she finish high school before she took the job?

[/crossthread]

You choose THAT post to do a crossthread? Swing and a miss. Try again.